Cigar-maker&#39;s work-box.



No. 720,111. l n, PATENTED'FBB. 10, 1903. E. J. CASTILLO.

CIGAR MAKBIRS WORK BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG..19, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1.

I l1 I HI u imnnlluw.

No. 720,111; Y PATBNTBD PEB. 1'0, 190,3.

E. J. CASTILLO. CIGAR MAKBRS WORK BOX.

' APPLIUATION FILED AUG.19, 1902. I 2 SHEETS-SHEET z.'

N0 MODEL.

l E H i ly@ M ff" L v nlo Zenfor UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMILIO J. CASTILLO, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

C|eAR-|v|AKEws WORK-Box. A

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 720,111, dated February 10, 1903. `A

Application led August 19, 190 Z. Serial No. 120,255. (No model.) y

T0 all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMILIO J. CASTILLO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Makers Work-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a workmans box for use by cigar-makers in the manufacture of cigars; and it consists of a box, preferably rectangular in form, of light sheet metal or other similar material, which is provided with drawers and other compartments or receptacles for containing the different kinds of tobacco which go to make up the different lparts of the cigarsuch as the Iiller, the binder, and the wrappera compartment for the parts of the leaf which Aare discarded-- such as trimmings from the wrappers, 85o.- a receptacle for water, whereby the tobacco Vis kept suitably7 moist, a receptacle for the iinished cigar, and a ledge or shelf for the pastebox or other articles.

The usual practice with cigar-makers is to arrange the tobacco around in front of them and cover the various piles with wet cloths to keep the tobacco moist. It then becomes necessary to raise the cloth each time filler, binder, and wrapper are wanted and then to replace the cloth to prevent the tobacco from drying out. Under this method some of the tobacco becomes too Wet for use, and as the entire pile or supply is exposed to view the workman is apt to select the best instead of taking it as it comes.

My invention has for its object 'the overcoming of the above-noted objections, the working up of the leaf and scrap tobacco into cigars to the best advantage and economy of stock, and the facilitating of the work, the arrangement and location of the parts being such that the tobacco is convenient to the reach of the workman. It does not come into direct contact with the moistening agent. It is kept always and uniformly moist throughout, never becoming too dry and crumbling through neglect, as in the old way, and the workman being compelled to work up the stock as it falls or slides to the exit-aperture in the box instead of sorting over and selecting the best each time.

In the drawings accompanying this specitication and forming a part thereof, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box, showing the lid to the waste-material compartment and to one of the working compartments open. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l., and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 4 4 of Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several views of the drawings. Y The letter A represents the entire box, which is rectangu'larin form and is made of light sheet metal, preferably, although other shapes and materials may be adopted, if desired.

B is the cover of the box, and C the body portion. These parts are secured together by hooks a, mounted on the body portion,

.which hook over pins o on the cover, and the handle c is provided by means of which it may be easily carried.

A transverse partition D divides the box into two compartments of unequal size. In the smaller compartment, which is on the left as the box faces the observer, is mounted a frame E, the height of which is less than that of the box, and a little above the frame E is a horizontal partition or plate F, which forms thebottom of a shallow compartment G, into which the workman puts the cigars as finished. This compartment is always open, as at H, for ready and convenient access, and the upper part of the flap which is produced in making the opening H is not detached, but is bent inwardly, as shown at h, so as to form a rounded and smooth edge to avoid injury to the hands.

The frame E is provided with internal ribs or ledges @,struck out and bent in from the side and end walls to form supports for a se-l ries of drawers I, J, and K, ranged one above the other. The lower drawer I is for binders, the drawer J is for wrappers, and the drawer K is a water-reservoir, the vapor from which supplies the necessary moisture for the tobacco contained by the box. The drawers I and J have knobs or pulls ij, while the reservoir K has a pull in the form of a funnel or IOO spout, which communicates with the interior of the reservoir for lling or emptying the latter of water. As 'the lower two drawers have to be frequently opened, they are provided with springs 17j', which automatically close the same after the binder or wrapper has been taken out, thus saving that amount of time and eiort on the part of the Workman. I have shown spiral springs for closing the drawers; but any other suitable form of spring or elastic means 'may be used instead. Owing to the greater density and weight of moist air, the water-reservoir is placed on top, thus insuring throughout a uniform moistening of the tobacco in all parts of the device. No springs are provided and none are necessary for the reservoir, because that is seldom opened. Theframe E is smaller than the compartment in which itis mounted, leaving an air-space all around it. Its walls are perforated at the points d, where the ledges or ribs e are struck out, and elsewhere, if desired. The top of the water-reservoiris foraminous, as shown at k, as also are the bottoms of the drawers I and J at ifj, respectively, and as the bottom drawer sets a little above the bottom of the box, leaving an air-space below, provision is made for complete circulation of the moistened air, which permeates all parts of the compartments and the drawers containing the tobacco. The other or larger of the two compartments formed by the partition D is divided by a longitudinal wall L into front and rear compartments, and the front one is subdivided into two smaller compartments m and m by a transverse partition M.

The rear wall L is shown as curved, although a fiat plate inclined from top to bottom toward the front of the box would accomplish the same result, the object being to provide a slopingr surface which shall carry the tobacco forward toward the front of the box to openings near the bottom of the compartments m and m', through whichit is taken out by the Workman.

Compartments m and m contain about enough filler for one days work and would not ordinarily require additional moisture, as from the reservoir K; but I have shown perforations d' in the wall D and m" in the wall M, which may be varied in number or dispensed with altogether, through which moistened air may pass to the filler-compartments. The front wall N of the compartments m and m inclines rearwardlyfrom the top, but stops short'of the bottom of the box, so as to provide for the passage-ways n and n through which the tobacco gravitates to be taken by the operator. These passage-ways fn and n' or the openings to them from the exterior are closed by closures 0 and O', hinged at o and 0 to turn outwardly, and are provided with suitable means by which to manipulate them, such as the knobs o, as shown. The object of inclining the wall N is to enable the closures O and O to be entirely inside the limits of the front of the box, thus avoiding any projecting parts and making the device more compact and uniform in shape. Located above the doors O and O is a ledge P, extending the length of the front wall N, which furnishes a convenient resting-place for the paste-box and such smaller articles or implements which may be needed or desired.

Q is a rearv compartment formed by the curved partition-wall L, into which the cuttings from the wrappers are dropped through the top opening q. Said opening is closed by a sliding cover q. In the rear near the bottom of the box is another opening, through which this compartment Q is emptied. This opening is closed by a sliding cover q. Suitable guideways or keepers q" and q" retain these sliding covers in place.

A narrow curved strip R betweenl the curved plate L and the bottom of the device cuts olf the narrow wedge-shaped corner'of the compartment Q, whereby accumulation and waste at that point are prevented.

In operation my improved workmans box sits on the table directly in front ot' the Workman and of his cigar-board. The compartments m and m' contain the filler, the drawer I contains the binders, the drawer J the wrappers, and K is the water-reservoir. The box being directly in front of the workmans cigar-board, the doors O and O when opened rest upon the cigarboard and cover any space which might be between the board and the box, preventing the tobacco from falling thereinto, and they also form a bridge, as it were, to hold whatever excess of tobacco is taken out.

According to the common way of arranging tobacco for the cigar-maker the stock is kept on the table at the right and left hand sides of the workman under wet cloths, which often cause too much moisture or by neglect the stock drying out and crumbling, to the detriment of all parties. This arrangement Aof stock causes a long reach for the workman, who has to remove the cloth and then replace it. It exposes all the stock to view and to the air and offers an opportunity and temptation to the workman to pick over and select the best, working it up and leaving all short pieces, thus causing inconvenience and loss of time to the workman and loss of stock to the employer.

In the use of my invention everything is in the most compact and convenient form possible. The stock is kept at a constant and uniform moisture. It is within easy reach of the workman and he is compelled to take, the stock as it falls into position by gravity instead of picking it over and selecting the best. Also only the top layer of wrappers and binders is exposed when the drawers are pulled out, and when the workman releases his grasp of the drawers after taking out the binder or the wrapper said drawers are automatically closed by the springs which control them.

IOO

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The cuttings from wrappers are dropped through the opening q into the compartment Q, from which they are removed through the opening in the rear of the box instead of being placed in a gut-like receptacle along and parallel with the front of the table, formed by tacking or sewing a heavy cloth at that point, by the use of which the tobacco dries ont and crumbles, causing loss of stock.

While I have described a workmans box for working up tobacco to the best advantage of certain construction and form and arrangement of parts, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details of the device shown and described, which is the embodiment merely of a form of means' whereby my invention may be carried into practice and which may be varied in many o f its specific details without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what l'claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. A workmans box for cigar-makers use comprising a main body part, one or more compartments for cigar-fillers, inlet and exit openings to the same, inclined rear walls` to said compartments for conducting the fillers by gravity to the exit-openings for easy and ready removal, compartments respectively for binders and wrappers, a reservoir for containing the moistening agent, and'openings establishing communication between the several compartments for circulation of the moistened air.

2. A workmans box for cigar-makers use comprising a main body part, a removable cover detachably secured to the same, one or more compartments for fillers, inlet and exitV openings to the same, inclined rear walls to said compartments, compartments respectively for binders and wrappers, a reservoir for containing a moistening agent, openings in the filler-compartment for abstracting the same for use, a supply-opening,Y for replenishing the filler-compartments, closures for said openings, and openings between the compartments whereby circulation of the moistened air is permitted.

3. A Workmans box for cigar-makers use comprising a main body part, compartments for fillers, openings for abstracting the filler from the bottom of said compartments,where by the filler can be taken only as it is presented at such openings by gravitation, a replenishing-opening at the top of said compartment, closures for said openings, compartments respectively for binders and wrappers, means of access to the same, and a reservoir for containinga moistening agent for the contained stock.

4. A workmans box for cigar-makers use comprising a main body part, a removablyattached cover for the same, one or more compartments for fillers, an opening near the bottom thereof whereby the contents gravitate to them and is accessible only as it presents itself to the opening,closu res for said opening, slidable drawers for binders and wrappers respectively, means for automatically closing saiddrawers,areservoircontainingamoistening agent, and means for causing circulation of the moistened air throughout the several compartments.

. 5. A workmans box for cigar-makers use comprising a body part, aremovably-attached cover for the same, one or more compartments for fillers, openings near the bottom of the saine to ywhich the tobacco gravitates and through which the filler is removed by the operator, a replenishing-opening at the top, covers for said openings, slidable drawers respect-ively for binders and wrappers, perforated bottoms to said drawers,a sliding drawer constituting a reservoir for the moistening agent, -a foraminous top closing said reservoir, a compartment to the rear of the fillercompartments for receiving the cuttings produced in the process of making cigars, inlet and outlet openings to the said last-named compartment at the top and near the bottom thereof, and closures for said openings.

6. A workmans box for cigar-makers use comprising a body part,a detachably-attached cover for the same, one or more compartments for fillers, slidable drawers respectively for binders and wrappers, means for automatically closing said drawers after opening, a reservoir-drawer for the moistening agent, perforated bottoms to the binder and wrapper drawers, a perforated top to the reservoir to permit the circulation of the moistened air to the other compartments, a compartment for the finished cigar, openings near the bottom of the fillercompartments to which the filler gravitates for removal, a replenishing-opening at the top of the filler-compartment, and a closure for the same, hinged closures or lids for exit-openings which open outward, a receptacle to the rear of the filler-compartment to receive cuttings from the wrappers, inlet and outlet openings to the same at the top and near the bottom thereof respectively, and closures for said openings.

7. A Workmans box for cigar-makers use comprising a body part, a removably-secured cover for the same, 011e or more compartments for fillers, exit-openings in front and near the bottom, a replenishing-opening in the top of said compartments, closures for said openings, a forwardly-inclined back wall to said compartments, slidable receptacles respectively for binders and wrappers, means for automatically returning said binder and Wrapper receptacles, and a compartment containing a moistening agent out of direct contact with the tobacco for providing circulation of uniform moisture to and through said tobacco.

8. A workmans box for cigar-makers use comprising a body part, a removable cover, one or more filler-compartments, a curved rear Wall therefor with its concave side facing the front of the box and its lower portion IOO IIO

sloping toward the front outlet-openings in front and near the bottom of said compartments, a supply-opening through the top, closures for said openings, the lower closures being hinged, a rearwardly-inclined front wall to filler-compartment terminatingashort distance above the bottom to leave a passageway to the exit-openings, said inclined front wall forming a rentrant angle along the front of said compartments, whereby space is provided at the base for the upwardly-facing exit-openings and the hinged lids or closures to lie within the limits of the front and end walls of the box, slidable receptacles for binders and wrappers, and a reservoir for containing a mostening agent.

9. A workmans box for cigar-makers use comprising a body part, a removable cover, one or more compartments in the body for fillers, a rear wall therefor sloping forward toward the base, a front wall inclined rearwardly from the top downwardly terminating a short distance above the bottom ofthe box to leave a passage-way below, said wall forming a rentrant angle in the front of the box along the face of the filler-receptacles, upwardly-facing exitopenings for said compartments on the plane with the lower edge of the front wall, said openings lying within the limits of the front edge and end walls of the box, hinged closures for said openings swinging outwardly and upwardly, a replenishing-opening for said compartments, aledge or shelf above the exit-openings and within said rentrant angle, siidable receptacles respectively for binders and wrappers, and means for providing moisture uniformly to the tobacco.

10. A workmans box for cigar-makers use comprising a body, a removable cover therefor, one or more liner-compartments, exitopenings in front and near the bottom, a supply-opening at the top, another compartment in said body, a framework secured in said last-named compartment but of smaller di mensions providing an air-space around it, ledges or ways in said frame, drawers for binders and wrappers sliding on said ways, means for automatically closing said drawers, a reservoir for the moistening agent sliding on said frame, said drawers and reservoir passing through openings in the front of said compartments, perforated bottoms to the drawers, and a perforated top to the reservoir whereby thorough and uniform circulation of moistened air is secured throughout the tobacco.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EMILIO J. CASTILLO.

Witnesses:

THos. H. CALLAN, STEPHEN B. CALLAHAN. 

